STORY OF A STAGE CORPSE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1642, 24 March 1884, Page 3

STORY OF A STAGE CORPSE.

Some twenty years ago a theatrical company were playing an engagement at the Theatro Royal, Victoria, VJI., tho star being Mr J. H. Taylor,-a w?Jlknown American tragedian, a very fine actor, anduperfect gentleman. One of tho members of the troupe was tho veteran John Potter, a familiar character ot all playgoers on the Paciiic coast. Old John was a capital all-round actor, but was troubled with a chronic cough, which did not much matter in comic old men, but was singularly inappropriate to the heavy fathers of the serious drama. On the night in question the play was" Vidimus," one of Mr Taylor's finest efforts, Old John, as usual, was cast for Siccius Dentatns, whoso corpse in one sceno is carried on the stage and remains, for a considerable period. It was always old John's custom to make one of the supers put on his beard and helmet and go on in his place as the supposed dead body, but on this occasion the action of tho piece being rather too quick for him, he was compelled to go on himself, and was duly deposited by his bearers in the contra of the stage. Virginius in the meantime being engaged in delivering one of his most telling speeches down at the footlights to the Roman public, represented by two distinguished actors, one at each end of the bier, who looked on and said, nothing, Presently the attention of these eminent Romans was drawn to the body of Siccius—they being quite aware that it was old John in person, and not the usual super—whose pulled cheeks and scarlet countenance betrayed its endeavors to restrain tho inevitable cough, so, exchanging a quiet wink, they awaited the denouement. At length the sheet covering the corpse began to heavo slightly, which caused the audience, who "were well acquainted with old John's infirmity, to titter. Mr Taylor, unaccustomed to have his Virginius received in such a manner, turned a sharp glance round at the eminent Romans, evidently expecting that they had been guilty of some absurdity, But no! They stood in their places immovable as statues, At last, as the convulsivo heaving of the sheot becamo more apparent, the titter increased to laughter, which culmiua-

ted in .1 roar on the unlade Siccius breaking out into a sonorous " Ouglihoo! ough-hool" considerably intensified by tho previous efforts to restrain it. Poor Mr Taylor walked up the stage in disgust, his great scene entirely spoilt by the unfortunate contretemps ; the curtain was rung down nmidsfc uproarbus cheers, and the act of " Virginius" was never completed, REMEMBER THIS. If you are sick Hop Bitters will surely aid Nature in making you well when all else fails. If you are costive or dyspeptic, or »re suffering from any other of the numerous diseases of the stomach or bowels, it is your own fault if you remain ill, for Hop Bitters is a sovereign remedy in all such complaints, If you are wasting away in any form of Kidney disease, stop tempting Death this moment, and turn for a cure to Hop Bitters. If yon are sick with that terrible sickness Nervousness, you will find a " Balm of Gilead" in the use of Hop Bitters,

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